According to Elizabeth Scott, author of 8 Keys to Stress Management, college students make several errors in exam preparation that revolve around procrastination. They tend to pull allnighters or wait until the last minute to begin studying, sometimes as a “rite of passage,” an expected part of the college experience, with no evidence that there is any actual benefit. Staying up all night, consuming energy drinks or relying on adrenaline to carry oneself through an exam unprepared, simply doesn't work. Instead, all it does is leave the student fatigued and unable to concentrate.

If you think that procrastinating with exam preparation simply works for you, that it is a part of some magic formula, and don't like anyone questioning your methods, ask yourself, “What else have I tried?” Whether you have been successful with exams in the past or not, most people are simply geared to follow the same behaviour patterns and then justify or excuse the results, with no logic to their arguments.

The fact is, experts agree almost unanimously on several issues. One, as mentioned, is procrastination, but another is falling into the trap of negative visualization.

If you let your mind run wild with ideas about the dire consequences of failing your exam, you don't increase your likelihood of success but rather set yourself up for disappointing results. Concern for the outcome is part of the process of commitment to action, but after that point, you are best to motivate yourself with thoughts of positive rewards, like the thrill of getting an A or satisfaction at passing.

Positive visualization applies just as well to exam preparation. It involves imagining yourself achieving your goal instead of picturing a miss. It is no substitute for hard work, but can motivate an individual without the toxic effects of fear and panic.

Time management is another key factor in exam success. Many people waste time studying things that they either already know or are not likely to be on the exam. Don't be afraid to talk to your professor and ask for advice on where to focus your efforts. Your professor may know from your previous work which areas are a weakness for you, and may also have previous test or quiz results that he or she may be willing to go over with you to see what questions you missed in the past. It's not uncommon for similar or identical questions to exist on finals as on previous tests.

You should also try to find out what the nature of the exam is. Studying for an essay question involves a need to fluidly understand the theories behind the subject matter, but a multiple choice test may lean more toward rote memorization, not to suggest that understanding the material isn't still important, but memorizing key names, places, dates, etc. may be especially helpful on multiple choice tests.

Most importantly, put everything in proper perspective. An exam is important, but is not life or death. Give it its proper importance, no more and no less. A student who enters an exam room calm and composed is far better off than one who walks in for a test with a mind full of fear and doubt.

Common exam errors (based on a University of North Dakota study guide):

1) Mistake: Mismatched lists or information.

Solution: Understand concepts, organized study sheets

2) Mistake: Incomplete or “sketchy” answers

Solution: Study from complete lecture notes and study sheets

3) Mistake: Answering the wrong question

Solution: Read the question carefully. Understand it

4) Mistake: Missing key terms in questions or answers

Solution: Understand your course's terminology

5) Mistake: Failure to apply material to a given situation

Solution: Understand material and the theories behind it

6) Mistake: Leaving out important details

Solution: Read questions carefully. Answer questions thoroughly